The Invisible Wife Turned Savage novel Chapter 246

**TITLE: Arrived 246**

In those days, Nathaniel had held a firm belief that since he had been there for Estella during her toughest moments, it was only fair for her to reciprocate by taking care of him and their family. After all, she was his wife, and contributing to the household was simply part of the deal.

Yet, as he sat in the car, he was struck by a sudden wave of realization—how cold and unfeeling he had truly been. If only he could turn back time and treat her with the kindness she deserved.

“Nathaniel, why are you sitting there in silence? Oh, and by the way, I’ve set up a meeting for you with the daughter of the Sunder family. You’re on holiday now, right? Don’t tell me you can’t spare even a moment for this!”

Nathaniel’s gaze was fixed on the sparkling lights twinkling outside the car window, but inside, he felt an all-consuming emptiness, like a hollow echo reverberating through his chest. With a heavy sigh, he pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and inhaled deeply, letting a slow, languid stream of smoke escape his lips before finally breaking the silence.

“Mom, I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to marry Isabelle.”

“What? Nathaniel, have you lost your mind? Isabelle is not the right choice for you! Have you forgotten how she left you to chase her dreams abroad?”

A bitter laugh escaped Nathaniel’s lips, tinged with the weight of his circumstances. “You know the situation with Hartwell Group. I need the Monroe family’s backing now more than ever. And let’s not forget about Naomi—don’t you want her to come home sooner? That won’t happen if Hartwell goes under. So, can you really say no to Isabelle?”

At the mention of impending financial ruin and the plight of her imprisoned daughter, Madeline fell into a heavy silence.

Nathaniel’s smile was faint, almost sad. “This deal is worth it, isn’t it?”

He ended the call and steered the car toward Estella’s neighborhood.

As he approached, the entrance was adorned with festive decorations—bright colors and cheerful lights that seemed to mock his current mood.

He parked the car and waited, his heart racing, each tick of the clock echoing in his mind.

Moments later, Estella emerged, walking alongside Jonathan. The way their eyes met, the silent understanding that passed between them, sent a sharp pang through Nathaniel, tightening his grip on the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.

He yearned to step out, to call out her name, to bridge the gap that had grown between them. But in the end, he remained rooted in place, paralyzed by a mix of regret and longing.

Closing his eyes, he forced himself to pull away from the scene, a wave of sorrow washing over him.

Meanwhile, Estella felt a lingering gaze upon her.

Turning around, she caught a glimpse of a familiar car speeding off into the distance.

Nathaniel’s car.

For a fleeting moment, time seemed to freeze.

Jonathan, noticing her sudden stillness, asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she replied, masking her emotions with a light smile. “Let’s go.”

Jonathan escorted her to a class reunion, a gathering that stirred a mix of excitement and trepidation within her.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to pick you up later?” he offered, concern etched on his face.

The tone was sharp, laced with judgment.

Estella turned her gaze to the source, not surprised to find Mindy, her old rival, smirking at her.

In high school, the boy Mindy had secretly liked had confessed his feelings to Estella instead, igniting a fierce competition between them that had lasted years.

Estella chose silence, refusing to give Mindy the satisfaction of a response. Yet Mindy, donning a false smile, continued, “Well, divorce isn’t the end of the world. If there are single guys here, they should take their chance!”

Her words reignited the interest of a few men who had previously backed off, their eyes now glimmering with renewed hope.

In their eyes, Estella had once been untouchable, a figure of admiration. But now, the label of “divorced” seemed to diminish her worth, making her appear more accessible.

Feeling the heat of their stares, Estella’s heart sank. Why had she come here to face these people, who felt like strangers now? What had she hoped to gain from this uncomfortable reunion?

Just then, someone caught sight of Mindy’s extravagant handbag.

“Mindy, isn’t that the same one from the Spring Festival Gala? I read online that it costs over a million! How did you get your hands on it?”

Mindy’s smile was filled with pride, her voice dripping with condescension. “I can’t speak for the gala, but I bought this bag last month. My husband gifted it to me for New Year’s.”

As the conversation continued, Estella felt the weight of her own choices pressing down on her, the laughter and chatter around her fading into a dull hum. She was left to navigate her own thoughts, the echoes of her past mingling with the reality of her present.